Yet Another Website

The time has come to stop such idolatry

(via email and Peripetia)

Phyllis M. Baker via the Internet writes:

“Why aren’t the historical persons and events in the additional Mormon books of the Bible recognized by scholars? They talk about how we were all spirit children in a spirit world before we were born, how our families must be “sealed” in the temple, so that they can stay together when we die and hopefully go to heaven. Have biblical scholars the world over researched these and other Mormon issues and, obviously, not accepted them? There are some brilliant men presiding over the Mormons at this time and it bothers me that they accept all the Mormon doctrines. I am constantly involved with Latter Day Saints persons and find them to be wonderful people and devoted friends but I just can’t accept all of the history and teachings of Joseph Smith. Maybe you could direct me to some reading material to clarify this problem. ”

Dear Phyllis,

I think you have answered your own question. There is no debate going on in academic circles about the validity or truthfulness of the narratives in the Book of Mormon because the consensus is universal that these books are not history and they are certainly not part of the original biblical tradition. That does not mean they are not edifying to Mormons and treasured by Mormons. They are simply not recognized as authoritative for the larger Christian community. This puts them in the same status as many other Christian writings.

I might add that scholars during the last 200 years of biblical scholarship have taken away much of the aura that once hung over the Bible and I regard that as good. It is the God pointed to by the Bible that we worship not the Bible. That is a lesson that many who call themselves members of the religious right, or fundamentalists of both a Catholic and Protestant variety need to understand and accept. No sacred writings whether they are by Joseph Smith or in the Bible itself are either inerrant or absolutely authoritative. One can be idolatrous about both the Book of Mormon and the Bible. The time has come to stop such idolatry.
— John Shelby Spong

Rapture Watch

The Bible’s Book of Revelations portends the end of days and the second coming of the Christian Messiah (one of our President’s favorite stories). Though no one knows when the end times will come, there are signs that will appear to men. Here on Morning Sedition we won’t let you be caught off guard by the end of the world. That’s why we present this week’s Rapture Watch with Milf Cardinal Milfington of the recently disgraced Diocese of …

Take heed, fornicators, here’s an archive of Rapture Watches from the old Morning Sedition program — enjoy them, in Hell!

Spammers are all worthless sacks of shit

Since January 16, 2006, over 4,000 attempts to post comment spam to this site have been logged. That’s 1,000 spam comments since February 17, 2006.

Looks like the assault on my Guestbook has stopped, or at least slowed down.

So What?

Microsoft says Open Office.org 10 years behind

Even if Microsoft’s claim is true (which it certainly is not), so what? What’s been added to Microsoft Office since 1996 that you can’t live without?

Not what I’d expect…

Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Deep Space Nine (Star Trek). You have entered the dark side of the Star Trek universe. The paradise of Earth is far from you and you must survive despite having enemies on all fronts. But you wouldn’t have it any other way because you thrive in conflict and will know what needs to be done to take care of those around you. Now if only the Founders would quit trying to take over the galaxy.

Deep Space Nine (Star Trek)

88%

Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix)

75%

Serenity (Firefly)

75%

Enterprise D (Star Trek)

69%

Millennium Falcon (Star Wars)

69%

Babylon 5 (Babylon 5)

63%

Bebop (Cowboy Bebop)

63%

SG-1 (Stargate)

63%

Moya (Farscape)

63%

Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda)

56%

Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica)

50%

FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files)

31%

Oops!

It’s probably not a good idea to put this band‘s sticker on your bike.

Friday Random Ten: 2006-03-03

	Name	Artist	Album	Genre
1.	Wonderous Stories	Yes	Going For The One	Rock
2.	Foundations Of Stone	London Philharmonic Orchestra & London Voices	The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers	Soundtrack
3.	Would You Be Happier	The Corrs	VH1 Presents the Corrs Live in Dublin	Folk
4.	Fireplace	R.E.M.	Document	Alternative & Punk
5.	Perpetual Change	Yes	The Yes Album	Rock
6.	Big Bang Backwards	Thomas Dolby	Gate to the Mind’s Eye	Alternative & Punk
7.	Tres Corzones (Three Hearts)	Stan Kenton	Cuban Fire!	Jazz
8.	Red Rain	Peter Gabriel	So	Rock
9.	Main Title/Locutus	Jerry Goldsmith	Star Trek: First Contact	Soundtrack
10.	The End	The Doors	The Doors	Rock

Missouri Republicans: Unclear on the concept

(via Eschaton)

State bill proposes Christianity be Missouri’s official religion (soul stealing registration may be required):

Missouri legislators in Jefferson City considered a bill that would name Christianity the state’s official “majority” religion.

House Concurrent Resolution 13 has is pending in the state legislature.

Many Missouri residents had not heard about the bill until Thursday.

Karen Aroesty of the Anti-defamation league, along with other watch-groups, began a letter writing and email campaign to stop the resolution.

The resolution would recognize “a Christian god,” and it would not protect minority religions, but “protect the majority’s right to express their religious beliefs.

The resolution also recognizes that, “a greater power exists,” and only Christianity receives what the resolution calls, “justified recognition.”

State representative David Sater of Cassville in southwestern Missouri, sponsored the resolution, but he has refused to talk about it on camera or over the phone.

KMOV also contacted Gov. Matt Blunt’s office to see where he stands on the resolution, but he has yet to respond.

I guess some Missouri legislators have nothing better to do than to propose blatantly unconstitutional legislation.

Virtucon gets some funding from the Pentagon

Pentagon mulling ‘stealth sharks’ to patrol the seas:

The Pentagon is reportedly funding research into neural implants with the ultimate hope of turning sharks into “stealth spies” capable of gliding undetected through the ocean.

According to the British weekly New Scientist, the research builds on experimental work to control animals by implanting tiny electrodes in their brain, which are then stimulated to induce a behavioral response.

The next logical step is to equip these sharks with frickin’ laser beams.

You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads! Now evidently my cycloptic colleague informs me that that cannot be done. Ah, would you remind me what I pay you people for, honestly? Throw me a bone here! What do we have?
— Dr. Evil

How much more of this incompetent boobery can we take?

Tape: Bush, Chertoff Warned Before Katrina

In dramatic and sometimes agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans’ Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, according to confidential video footage.

Bush didn’t ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: “We are fully prepared.”

“Bush didn’t ask a single question…” WTF????

Was this yet another case of Bush’s intellectual laziness leading to disaster?